Reversible turbine arrangement for



Patented Jan. 6, 1948 REVERSIBLE TURBINE ARRANGEMENT FOR COOLING IDLE TURBINES Georges Hoflmann, B'elfort, France, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1942. Serial No. 471,807

. In France October 7, 1941 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to reversible turbine arrangements for operating ships, locomotives and the like, including an elastic fluid turbine for driving a shaft in one direction and anther turbine for driving the same shaft in the opposite direction. More specifically the invention relates to the type of arrangements in which the second turbine is rotated idly during operation of the first turbine and means are provided to cool the second turbine while running idle.

The object of the invention is to provide improved reversible turbine arrangements of the type above specified which may be operated safely and economically. Y

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing illustrates a reversible turbine arrangement embodying my invention.

The arrangement comprises two multi-stage turbines, a first turbine l and a second turbine Ii with shafts connected for driving a, pinion shaft I2 with a pinion l3 meshing with a gear i 4 for driving a shaft [5. The shaft l5 may be an axle of a locomotive. The turbine I0 is a forward turbine and during operation drives the shaft l5 in one direction while the turbine is a reversing turbine which during operation drives the shaft i5 in the opposite or reversing direction. During operation of either turbine the other turbine runs idle at full speed. Improved means are provided to keep the temperature of each turbine while running idle within safe limits by automatically passing cooling fluid, preferably air, therethrough during operation of the other turbine. The conduit means for supplying such cooling medium to each turbine and discharging it therefrom is formed at least partly by the conduit means for conducting operating medium such as steam to the turbines and discharging it therefrom.

In the present example the turbines I 0 and ii have inlet conduits I6 and I1 respectively connected to receive elastic fluid from a fluid su ply conduit l8. The flow of elastic fluid to the turbine I 0 is controlled by an inlet or control valve is having a stem connected toafhydraullc motor 2|. The fluid isdischarged from the turbine I0 through an exhaust conduit .22. Similarly, the supply of operating fluid to the turbine II is controlled by a control valve 23 in the inlet conduit II, which valve has a stem 24 connected to a hydraulic motor 25. The reversing turbine II has an exhaust conduit 28. During operation of the forward turbine ill the valve I8 is open and the valve 23 is closed. Operat- 5 ing fluid such as steam, for example, is then conducted to the turbine l0 and discharged therefrom through the exhaust conduit 22.

In order to keep thereversing turbine H cool while driven by the forward turbine i0 means are provided for passing cooling medium therethrough. This means includes the aforementioned exhaust conduit 28 which in accordance with my invention is provided with a butterfly valve 21 having an opening 28 for admitting a limited amount of cooling medium, preferably air, to the reversing turbine ll during operation of the forward turbine Ill. The valve 28 is provided with a counterweight 29, permitting the valve 21 to close automatically when the turbine II is put out of operation and permitting the valve to be forced open by the flow of elastic fluid therethrough during normal operation of the turbine. Cooling medium is conducted to the turbine II when running idle through the 25 conduit 26 and discharged from the turbine through a conduit 80 connected to the inlet conduit ii at a point between the valve 23 and the first turbine stage. The conduit 30 according to my invention is provided with a valve 3| having 80 a stem 82 connected to one end of a lever 33 which latter has an intermediate point supported on a fulcrum 34 and another end connected to the stem 24 of the inlet valve '23. With this arrangement the valve SI for discharging cooling medium, such as air, from the conduit I! is automatically opened upon closing of the control valve 23. Thus, during idling of the reversing turbine cooling mediumsuch as air may be supplied through the conduit 26 to the last stage of 40 the turbine and discharged from the first turbine stage through the conduit l1 and the valved conduit 30. The conduit 26 may be connected directly to atmosphere whereby during normal operation elastic fluid may be discharged to at- 46 mosphereand during idling of the turbine ll air may be taken in through the conduit 28 and forced through the turbine to keep its temperature within safe limits. The flow of cooling medium through the turbine H is induced by rota- 5o tion ofthe' turbine by action of the other turbine. The amount of cooling medium is restricted by the small opening 28 in order tc keep the friction losses in the turbine atv a minimum. n

The forward turbine I0 is similarly provided with a butterfly valve having a small opening J. H. HOMRIGHOUS 2,434,161

ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE HEATING UNITS IN TUBES Jan. 6, 1948.

Filed Aug. 22, 1942 FIG 2 FIG I FIG 4 IN! 'ENTOR. 

